Montreal train station

[Shelbym 2]

Hi all,

My fiance plans on taking the train in from Toronto, and I will be flying directly to Montreal. We're trying to piece together everything from the train website/Google maps, but neither of us have been to Montreal before. Which train station is closest to the airport, if there's more than one? Is the airport/train station close to the consulate, or should we expect to take a cab? We plan on staying at one of the close hotels mentioned in the consulate review, so there's at least one thing we don't have to worry about.

Thanks for the help!

[NikLR 13,227]

The airport is not close to the consulate. Go the day before and stay in a hotel. You can take a bus (747) which costs $9 to get downtown vs the $40 flat rate for a cab that takes the same amount of time. The train can go to downtown Montreal. So meet at the hotel is my recommendation.

[Shelbym 2]

Okay, good to know! I fly in Monday, and his interview isn't until Friday (any excuse for a mini vacation!), so we have time to get settled in. I'm just really nervous about navigating the city since I don't speak a lick of French. I know it's a bilingual city, but I'm a worry wart

Does the 747 go directly to the train station for us to meet up or should I look up the schedule for transfers and what not? And thank you!

[Flames9_RN 358]

At 1 time ( Dec 2004) there was a free hotel shuttle from the downtown train station, took you to many of the downtown hotels for free (just tip).......And ytou could (or hotel desk straff) could arrange for the return trip to the train station as well

I think it is no longer in operation, but there used to be bus (not a city bus) that went right from the airport to the downtown train station. Was around $24 round trip and you bought ur tickets just outside the arrivals gate! It sort of worked in connection with that free hotel shuttle at the train station.

Hard to believe that was over 9 years ago now! Time flies!!

[Shelbym 2]

I don't know which hotel we're staying at yet, bu we'll look into the shuttle. I looked into some of the hotels mentioned here on VJ, but they all seem pretty expensive. Is that how Montreal is or should we just keep checking sites like Expedia?

[Flames9_RN 358]

The ones close to the Consulate are downtown, so bound to be more $$$......I know what I have done in the past is find the cheapest price on expedia or traveloity or kayak...and then just call the hotel directly as ask for their best rate, and sometimes can get it at a better rate

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

I don't know which hotel we're staying at yet, bu we'll look into the shuttle. I looked into some of the hotels mentioned here on VJ, but they all seem pretty expensive. Is that how Montreal is or should we just keep checking sites like Expedia?

Remember, Canada is an old Indian word that means rip off ;-)

Plan accordingly.

[Shelbym 2]

Remember, Canada is an old Indian word that means rip off ;-)

Plan accordingly.

Are you sure you're not confusing Canada with San Francisco?!

Now that I think about it, it's not too much more expensive than when I first started flying out May of 2012. We just stay at the same hotel every time, so we started getting discounts emailed to us, which helps out a lot. Since embracing that it'll be expensive regardless, my new mission is to convince the fiance that we should stay at Le Phillip ;-)

Thanks for the tips, all

[NikLR 13,227]

Okay the 747 doesn't go to the train station... It goes downtown. You buy the tickets at the arrivals section, there are bunch of orange signs. $9 for one trip and like $18 for 3 days. (which you can also use on the metro)

What I would do is decide WHERE you are staying. Then decide how far to take the bus. Here are the stops and sometimes you have to walk a block to two to get to your hotel but it's better to walk a block, IMHO, than take a cab that costs $40 for the same time to travel. The bus does not go all the way to the consulate, and the train is a block or so off Rene Levesque Blvd. Meet at your hotel.

I stayed at the best western on rue Drummond and it was very nice, even for the tiny room I had. But I had to stay a week and was looking for a deal. An expensive hotel may be nice for a night.

Also I don't speak a lick of french and managed my way around downtown Montreal for a week. You'll be fine. Downtown is probably the easiest area on non-francophones.

OH forgot to add.. here is the list of stops for the bus going towards downtown. It's like a normal bus and doesn't stop at each one unless you tell it to so pay attention to where you are. http://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus/shuttle/line-747-east

[Shelbym 2]

Okay the 747 doesn't go to the train station... It goes downtown. You buy the tickets at the arrivals section, there are bunch of orange signs. $9 for one trip and like $18 for 3 days. (which you can also use on the metro)

What I would do is decide WHERE you are staying. Then decide how far to take the bus. Here are the stops and sometimes you have to walk a block to two to get to your hotel but it's better to walk a block, IMHO, than take a cab that costs $40 for the same time to travel. The bus does not go all the way to the consulate, and the train is a block or so off Rene Levesque Blvd. Meet at your hotel.

I stayed at the best western on rue Drummond and it was very nice, even for the tiny room I had. But I had to stay a week and was looking for a deal. An expensive hotel may be nice for a night.

Also I don't speak a lick of french and managed my way around downtown Montreal for a week. You'll be fine. Downtown is probably the easiest area on non-francophones.

OH forgot to add.. here is the list of stops for the bus going towards downtown. It's like a normal bus and doesn't stop at each one unless you tell it to so pay attention to where you are. http://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus/shuttle/line-747-east

We decided on Le Phillip. We'll have to take a look at the bus schedules to figure it all out, but thank you for the help!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Canada a rip off, not sure where you get that from? Stay in a hotel in any downtown city it is going to be pricey.

[NikLR 13,227]

Remember, Canada is an old Indian word that means rip off ;-)

Plan accordingly.

Im sure no offense was meant but plenty was taken.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

By me too...can't believe how expensive this country is ;-)

[Flames9_RN 358]

Im sure no offense was meant but plenty was taken.

As George Carlin stated "“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

[NikLR 13,227]

LOL I'll take that to heart.